The 49-foot tall chamber of Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam will become a canvas for experimental artworks during this two-part series.

Part two features The Uncompromising Hand by Andrea Carlson and engages Spirit Island, a limestone island and Dakota sacred site that was once in the Mississippi River near the current Lock and Dam. The lock wall will come alive with a hand drawn animation based on six photographs of the island from the MN Historical Society’s collection, which plot the island’s lengthy dismantle between the 1890’s and 1960’s. Text in Dakota and Ojibwe will accompany the animation.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Viewing of Surface and The Uncompromising Hand will work like a gallery visit, where visitors stroll around the perimeter of the lock chamber to view the projections. The average visit for Illuminate the Lock will last 20-30 minutes. Chairs are not allowed and please leave your dog and other pets at home. This is an industrial federal facility and pets, alcohol and smoking are not permitted. Kids under 12 need to be supervised by an adult at all times. The site is accessible. Some surfaces at the Lock are metal grates, please wear sensible shoes. Please ask staff onsite if you need a particular accommodation. We encourage people to bike or take light rail to the event. Parking is available at several nearby lots, including the Guthrie Theater and the Mill Quarter Parking Ramps. There will be food trucks near the lock.